I am a social worker in Chattanooga. You have reported that HCA Parkridge Valley is seeking to reverse the unanimous 9-0 decision by the State to approve Erlanger’s plans to build a much-needed behavioral health center in Chattanooga, which would delay the process indeterminately.
I’ve worked in mental health for 7+ years, which is enough to understand the urgent need I’ve seen in Chattanooga since coming here three years ago. I’ve had multiple encounters with both Moccasin Bend and Parkridge Valley while attempting to place patients with a psychiatric need or receiving them from these facilities. Moccasin Bend is bursting at the seams, at times using Erlanger as a disposition for these patients, though there are currently no appropriate accommodations for actively psychotic adults below the age of 65 on any of their campuses.
As for Parkridge Valley, it seems they are able to stay full with less acute psychiatric patients and therefore not usually available for the more complicated psychiatric patients.
From what I’ve seen the last three years there is plenty of need to go around. Delaying this new facility will only create a bigger chasm between the psychiatric patient and the productive citizen that person could become with our help.
How much longer must we deny people their right to treatment with excuses such as “no beds available” or “the patient is too acute”? Erlanger is stepping up to solve this problem and I, for one, am proud and relieved. I’m positive this 88-bed hospital will only serve to better our community and wish the other psychiatric facilities would see as a benefit rather than more competition.
Crystal L. Kee MSW